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UNHCR urges South Sudan to treat Machar's spokesman humanely

Xinhua, November 5, 2016 Adjust font size:

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has called on South Sudan to ensure that sacked First Vice President Riek Machar's spokesman James Gatdet Dak, who has been deported from Kenya, is treated in accordance with human rights law.

In a statement received in Juba Friday, UNHCR's spokesperson Cecile Pouilly said the UN agency was deeply concerned about the well-being of Dak, a member of Machar-led opposition party SPLM-IO.

Dak was deported to the South Sudanese capital Juba from Kenya on Thursday. He was arrested upon arrival at the Juba International Airport and is now said to be in the custody of security forces.

On behalf of the SPLM-IO, Dak had welcomed the dismissal by the UN chief of Kenyan Lt General Johnson Kimani Ondieki as the commander of the UN peacekeeping force in South Sudan, allegedly angering the Kenyan government.

Pouilly said Dak had previously been granted refugee status by Kenyan authorities and that Dak's forced return was a violation of the principle of non-refoulement, which is the cornerstone of international refugee law.

"We also regret that UNHCR's interventions with the Kenyan authorities to stop Dak's forced return were not successful," Pouilly said.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday sacked Ondieki, citing his failure to respond to an attack by government soldiers on an aid compound in Juba during clashes between rival forces in July.

Kenya has hit out at the dismissal and has said it will withdraw its troops from South Sudan.

Meanwhile, Machar, who is in South Africa, has condemned the deportation of his press secretary, terming it a violation of the Geneva Convention.

In a statement issued in Nairobi, Kenya, Machar condemned Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto and Attorney General Githu Muigai for ignoring his appeal not to deport Dak for fear of his life.

Renewed fighting erupted in early July in South Sudan between government troops led by President Salva Kiir and forces loyal to Machar, Kiir's long-time rival. Machar has since fled the country.

Machar appealed to the international community, particularly the UN and the UNHCR, to ensure that Dak was immediately released, adding that he had called the two seeking their help in stopping the deportation.

Machar said Dak was arrested at his residence on Wednesday by Kenyan security forces. Endit